Cable forming apparatus



March 20, 1945. A, 0, RYAN CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1943 Patented Mar. 20, 1945 2,372,162 CABLE FORMING APPARATUS Albert 0. Ryan,

River Edge, N. J., assignor to Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation,

Newark, N. 1.,

a corporation of Delaware Application May 15, 1943, Serial No. 487,080

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cable forming apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the size of extruded insulated cable.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for accurately controlling the size of extruded insulated cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide extruded insulated cable size-controlling apparatus which is simple and readily adjustable as a control unit for various sizes of cable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for accurately controlling the size of extruded cable, which is relatively insensitive to small protuberances on the cable but which will measure and correct for all large variations and all small and gradual size changes.

Morespeciilcally, the apparatus according to the present invention controls the size of extruded insulated cable by continuously measuring the average size of continuously varying preselected lengths of cable extruder.

An illustrative embodiment disclosing one form of the invention together with a modified control unit is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of cable size controlling apparatus according to the present invention, showing its relationship to the cable as it passes from the extruder to the pulling rollers;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the rollers used in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional portion of the control panel shown in Fig. 1, together with a circuit diagram of a control circuit which may be used with the present invention; and

Fig 4 is an enlarged partial front view of a modified control unit which may be used in place of the unit shown in Fig. 1.

It is already known to extrude various forms of insulation about a. bare wire core to form insulated cable. In such instances. the insulated cable coming from the extruder is generally passed through pulling rollers which draw the cable from the extruding head. For any particular size extruding head. the size of the cable as determined by the thickness of the insulation thereon, is affected by the speed at which the insulated cable is'drawn from the extruder. The

faster the speed the thinner will be the insulation, while the slower the speed the thicker will be the insulation. Despite the fact that the speed of pulling the cable can be carefully controlled. as well as can the conditions within the as it comes from the I extrudennevertheless variations in the thickness of insulation occurring which for high frequency cable cause relatively large changes in total cable impedance. In accordance with the present invention I provide means whereby any changes in cable size due to changes in thickness of the extruded insulation may be quickly detected and compensated for.

In Fig. 1 a general view of the proposed system is illustrated. The cable it coming from the extruder and going to the pulling rollers is passed over a pair of longitudinally spaced rooved rollers I 2 and I4. In order that the cable shall fit firmly into the rollers it is desirable to have a slight; tension on the cable, and for this purpose the rollers may be adjusted so that leading up to them the cable will normally extend at an angle, for example, 5 or more. The rollers I 2 and H are preferably mounted on yokes l6 and I 8 respectively, which are adjustably supported in slotted mounts and 22 by suitable means such as screws 2| and 23. The mounts 20 and 22 may, in turn,'be supported upon a suitable base 24.

Attached to the base 24 or held separately but in predetermined relationship therewith, is a control panel 26 which, first of all, may be provided with a scale 28 positioned behind the sec-- tion of the cable l0 passing between the spaced rollers. The panel 26 may also be provided with cut-out portions 30 and 3| behind which are positioned adjustable boxes 33 and each containing light-controlling slits 31 and 39 and adapted to be placed on opposite sides of the cable 10.

The rollers l2 and I4 are grooved and preferably formed in an adjustable manner as indicated in Fig. 2. As will there be seen, each roller or pulley may be formed of two disks or flanges 34 and 35 having opposite conical faces forming a groove between them The disks 34 and 36 are suitably mounted on a shaft 38 and spaced from one another by a suitable spacer 40. The disks 34 and 36 together with the spacer 40 are rigidly held on the shaft 38 by any suitable means such as nut collars 42 and 44 which may be threaded on the shaft 38 squeezing the disks 34 and 36 and the intermediate spacer 40 between them.

From astudy of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 it will be noted that as the cable I 0 passes between the rollers l2 and 14 under tension, it will assume a position in the groove which is dependent upon its size. According to the present invention it is proposed that for the normal size of the cable to be produced, the same the groove, while if it which line will be substantially connecting the axes of the rollers. As

.pensate for any will assume an formed roller groove; If the is smaller than desired intermediate position in the size of the cable the straight line section of the cable it! between the rollers l2 and it is a measureoi the size of the cable being extruded, while at the same time bumps or protuberances on the cable unimportant since they can slight which are relatively be quickly checked and corrected, will have little effect upon the movement of this straight line section, which movement is controlled, rather, by the average size of cable over the unit length as determined by the spacing of the two pulleys or rollers.

The position of the straight line section of the cable between the rollers t2 and to, being a measure of the size of the cable, can be read by a suitable scale or other indicia 2t positioned on the panel 26 behind the cable, and thus advise the operator whether the cable is averaging correct size, too large, or too mall. At the same time, the in ancient movement or this straight line section mayalso be used to control and com: variations in cable size. While various means for detecting and utilizing this movement of the cable section will occur to those it will all inwardly into' end of the groove. This asvaioe any mown manner. The light-sensitive devices ll and 8 are respectively connected to amplifiers 55 and 56 which, in turn, respectively lead to the operating coils of normally energized relaysdfi and G6.

' As was mentioned previously, the cable is gen-- erally pulled from the extruder by means of suitable rollers which may be driven by a power tically adjustable in source through a variable speed drive. In Fig. 3, v

the driving unit is generally indicated at 54 and may consist of a motor 66 connected toe variable transmission 68 which may be, for example; of the well-known type in which a belt is driven between pulleys whose diameter may be controlled to change the driving ratio. As the details of such a control unit are well-known in the transmission art, it is not believed that any further 4 information with respect to such a drive is necesspeed drive a shaft l6 sary. From this variable may lead to the pulling rollers I2. A pilot motor 62 of the reversible type and the light-sensitive device 41 de-energized. As a result the relay 60 will close, energizing the reversible motor 82 in a direction to change skilled in this art, according to one embodiment of the present invention I prefer to accomplish this by the use of light-sensitive cells which are positioned behind. slits on opposite. sides of the cable. This apparatus is shown more clearly in Fig. 3. As there indicated, the panel 26 is provided' with a pair of openings 3!! and ii behind which are respectively positioned boxes or other enclosures 33 and 35 each provided with a small slit El and 39. Within each of the boxes is mounted a photo-electric cell 6,! and 48. On the 1. other side of the cable is positioned a light source such as a lamp 45, the rays from which are reflected toward the slots ll and 39 in substantially parallel lines by means The light rays passing through the slits 31 and 39' may be deflected toward their respective, light sensitive devices by mirrors 5 and 48. In the position of-the parts shown, which is assumed to be a position taken by a cable of the size desired, both light-sensitive devices 1 and ll will he energized since the cable in its mid-position does not block the light through either of the slits $1 and 3!. If, however, the cable is too large in diameter, the straight line section between the two pulleys or rollers will rise, block the light passing through the slit 31 and de-encrgize the light-sensitive device 41. On theother hand, if

- the cable is smaller than desired, the straight line section between the pulleys will move downwardly blocking the slit :9 and (lo-energizing the light-- sensitive device 48. It is contemplated, of course; that the slits 31 and I! are spaced from the normal position of the cable II to an extent determined by the permissible foleranccs in cable size and for this reason the boxes may be made verof a suitable reflector 5U.

the variable speed control to increase the speed of the rollers l2 and thus reduce the diameter of the cable being extruded. If the size of the cable to is too small and it covers the slit 39, deenergizing the light-sensitive device 58 and the relay 58, the reverse-action will take place. I

One of the features of the present inven tion lies in the adaptability of the control apparatus for various sizes of cables and various tolerances in cable size. This is the result of several factors. The construction of the rollers 12 and it will, by utilizing diflerent sizes of spacers 40, provide difierent size grooves to accommodate different size cables. Since different size cables will require difierent tensioning, the rollers themselves are mounted upon adiustable supports as noted that the slope of'tbe conical races of the disks 31 and 36 of the rollers is at determining factor in the amount of movement for change in cable size which'will occur in the straight line portion oi! the cable between the two rollers. Accordingly, the apparatus is subject to further adjustment by substituting disks having various slopes depending upon the tolerancesin cable sizes and the sensitivity of control desired.

It iscontemplated according to this invention that any suitable meansfor detecting movement of the straight line portion or the cable between the two controlling portions may be used to detect and eflectively control the size of cable. While controls the position of the movable pulley disks in the transmission.

asraiea in Figs. 1 and 3 I have illustrated, by way of example, an arrangement in which light-sensitive devices are used for this purpose, other arrangements will occur to those skilled in this art. Another example of a suitable control device is illustrated in Fig. 4. Here the straight line section 01' the cable [0 passes through a pair of light springs 18 and 18 respectively mounted on what may be adjustable base 80 and 8!. The lower ends of the springs 18 and I! are formed with contacts 88 and "respectively, which will be spaced from contacts 88 and 98 by an amount equal to the tolerances in cable size desired. As the straight line portion of the cable moves upwardly or downwardly, as seen in the drawing, either the contact pair 84, 88 or 86, 90 will close when the limits of desirable tolerance have been reached. The closing of either pair of contacts may close control circuits, such as for the relays 58 and '88 in Fig. 3, to effect a change in the speed of the pulling rollers in the manner previously described. The stationary contacts 88 and 98 also may be made adjustable to give variations in tolerance, if desired. The control relays may be such as to respond only to closure of the contacts for a predetermined time so that the control will not respond to every small projection on the cable insulation.

While I have described above the principles-of my invention in connection with certain apparatus and modification thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this description i made only byway of example and not a a limitation on the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects and the accompanying claims.

I claim: I I

1. In a system for forming insulated cables of the type in which insulation is extruded about a wire core in an extrusion head and means are provided for pulling the insulated cable under tension from the extrusion head, including means for controlling the pulling speed, the combination of a pair of spaced-apart grooved pulley over which the cable passe from the extrusion head to the pulling means, the grooves in each pulley being of variable width, increasing from the center of the pulley outwardly and so dimensioned relatively to the cable that the latter will ride in an intermediate radial position in the'groove for av desired cable size, whereby the cable will shift radially in each pulley and in a straight line between the pulleys depending upon its size, means positioned between the two pulleys for detecting variations in the size of the cable by changes in the position of the straight line portion between the pulleys, and means responsive to said detecting means for varying said speed control means.

2. The combination according to claim 1,. in which said detecting means includes a pair of light-sensitive devices positioned on opposite sides of the normal straight line position of the cable between the pulleys, and a light source normally energizing said light-sensitive devic and so positioned relatively thereto that movement of the cable out of its normal straight line position will interrupt the energization of one of the said lightsensitive devices, and in which the/speed varying means comprises a reversible motor drivably connected to vary said speed-control means, a source of power for said reversible motor, and alternate means operated by one or the other of said lightsensitive devices for connecting said source of power to said reversible motor for operating the same in one direction or other.

3. The combination according to claim 1. in

which said detecting means includes a pair of circuit-closing means positioned on opposite sides of the normal straight line portion of the cable between the pulleys and actuated whenever said cable moves from its normal straight lin position, and in which the speed varying means comprises a reversible motor drivably connected to vary said speed control means, a source of power for said reversible motor, and alternative means operated by one or the other of said circuit-closing means for connecting said source of power to said reversible motor for operating the same in one direction or another.

4. In a system for forming insulated cables of the type in which insulation is extruded about a wire core in an extrusion head and means are provided for pulling the insulated cable under tension from the extrusion head, the combination of a pair of spaced-apart grooved pulleys over which the cable passes from the extrusion head to the pulling means, the grooves in each pulley being of variable width, increasing from the center of the pulley outwardly and so dimensioned relatively to the cable that the latter will ride in an intermediate radial position in the groove for a desired cable size, whereby the cable will shift radially in each pulley and in a straight.

line parallel to a line interconnecting the axes of the pulleys, depending upon its size, and means positioned between the two pulleys and adjacent the cable running between them for detecting changes in position of the straight line section and thus detecting changes in cable size.

5. The combination according to claim 4, in

. which said last means is a scale having indicia thereon extending across the straight line portion of the cable between the pulleys.

6. The combination according to claim 4, in which said detecting means includes a pair of light-sensitive devices positioned on opposite sides of the normal straight line position of the cable between the pulleys, and a light source normally energizing said light-sensitive device and so positioned relatively thereto that movement of the cable out of its normal straight line position will interrupt the energization of one of the said lightsensitive devices.

7. The combination according to claim 4, in which each of said pulleys comprises two flanges having oppositely directed substantially conical faces, a common mounting for said flanges, and

spacing means between the two flanges, whereby the two conical faces form between them a groove of varying width determined by the width of the spacing member.

8. In apparatus for controlling the size of insulated cable, in which the insulation is applied from an extrusion head and means are provided for pulling said insulated cable from the extrusion headyincluding a'rnotor and a variable speed drive intermediate said motor and said pulling means, the combination of a pair of spacedapart grooved pulleys over which the cable passes under tension from the extrusion head to the pulling means, the groove in each pulley being of variable width increasing from the center outwardly and so dimensioned relatively to the cable that the latter will ride in an intermediate radial position in the grooves when the insulation is of a desired diameter, whereby the cable will shift radially in the grooves of each pulley and in a straight line parallel to a line interconnecting the axes of the pulleys, depending upon the outer diameter of the insulation, means positioned between the two pulleys and adjacent the cable i v aamma running between than for detecting changes in the position of the straight line section, and means controlled by said detecting means for varying 1 said variable speed di'ive. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in combination with means for adjustabiy mounting said ulleys for adjustment transversely to said line.

10. The combination seem-ding to claim 8, in which said detecting means includes a pair of light-sensitive devises positioned on opposite sides of the normal straight line position at the cable between the pulieys ami a light source normally energizing said light-sensitive device and so 1205!;- tioned relatively thereto that movement of the cable out of its normal straight line position wiii interrupt the energization of one o! the said lightsensitive devises.

11. The eombination according to claim 8, in which said detecting means includes a pair of circuit-closing means positioned on opposite sides '01 the normal straight line portion of the 'cabie 30 between the pulleys and actuated whenever said cable moves from its normal straight line positien.

' ALBERT 0. RYAN. 

